Winter Between the Lines

Between THE LINES

WELCOME TO THE WINTER ISSUE OF OUR EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER!

We hope the newsletter keeps you informed about employee and member updates. You will receive Between the Lines every three months. Each issue will feature employee anniversaries, birthdays, upcoming meetings and events, and more.

We want to hear from you!

Do you have information to include in the newsletter or an idea to improve communication? Send feedback, information, and photos to Jade at jadeg@butlerrural.coop.

Congratulations!

Operations and Construction Coordinator

Ray Brunner graduated from Ohio's Electric Cooperatives' Leadership Edge program for line crews in December.

Leadership Edge is a statewide program aiming to hone the skills of the next generation of electric cooperative leaders. The one-year program required six courses, two assessments, and a capstone project. Coursework focused on coaching employees, managing conflict, adapting communication approaches, carrying out difficult conversations, and delivering results.

Ray Brunner OPERATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION COORDINATOR

STAY informed

You should receive Changing Currents by email every two weeks. Changing Currents is created and published by Ohio's Electric Cooperatives, the service organization owned by the electric co-ops in our state. The emails contain news and information from electric co-ops across Ohio.

If you don't receive Changing Currents, let Julie, Missy, or Kim in Human Resources know and they will sign you up to receive the emails.

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative invests in training and development with the goal of serving members with top talent and skills. We’re not just an electricity provider, we work to make our area a better place to live and work. That means investing in our employees and making sure we’re providing the best possible services.

Congratulations, Ray!

FutureMe portal

The Rewards for Life wellness program changed to FutureMe in January. The new program was developed in response to feedback from co-op employees and is designed to help you identify and pursue your journey to holistic well-being.

2023 CHALLENGES

Challenge 1 – Make Your Move

The FutureMe portal, hosted by WebMD, contains a wealth of resources and tools to help you, and all NRECA Medical Plan participants, take control of your health.

Register for access

The program format will remain the same – you will still earn points as you complete certain milestones during your 2023 FutureMe journey. Just log into FutureMe and post your activities during the year. The maximum point value for 2023 will be 1,000, which is a monetary value of $200, reimbursable to you in 2024 for health and wellness expenses. The monetary value for points under 1,000 will be adjusted accordingly.

Visit cooperative.com > My Benefits > My Insurance > FutureMe

Join this five-week challenge, beginning March 15, and log 600 total minutes of activity. That’s about 30 minutes of activity four days a week. All who register will be entered into a raffle drawing for 10 gift cards of $100 each. Complete this challenge to earn 200 points!

Challenge 2 – Slash the Sugar

Already registered? Your previous WebMD account will transfer. Simply log in through cooperative.com or using the WebMD Wellness At Your Side app.

Once logged in, complete the survey questions to customize your well-being experience.

First things first

Get started with FutureMe by taking the FutureMe survey to guide your health journey. The Health Assessment is worth 200 points!

Log one or no sugary items per day for 20 of the 30 days of this challenge that begins June 7. All who register will be entered into a raffle drawing for 10 gift cards of $100 each. Complete this challenge to earn 200 points!

Complete the FutureMe survey (under the drop-down menu in the top, right-hand corner)—a health assessment designed to give you immediate feedback and further customize the FutureMe portal to your needs and interests.

Challenge 3 – Invitational Team Steps Challenge

Tools

When you answer questions related to your lifestyle and biometrics, the survey identifies positive steps you can take toward better health. Plus, you’ll be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card – 200 winners will be selected – if you start the survey from January 1 to February 24, 2023. You will have the opportunity to return to the survey and enter your biometric information from our health screening in February.

• My Health – The portal homepage, where you’ll find articles, webinars, infographics and more pertaining to your needs.

• Daily Habits – An interactive and doctor-approved tool for setting well-being goals.

• Rewards – Track your progress toward earning well-being incentives, if applicable.*

• Coaching – Connect with a credentialed health professional for one-on-one support, accountability and motivation.

Create a team of five and participate in at least four of the five rounds of this challenge that begins October 4. Each week is a new round, and participation means recording any number of steps at least five days during the round. All teams who meet the challenge goal are placed in a drawing for members of the two teams to receive a $100 gift card, and $100 is donated to a charity of the individual’s choice. Complete this challenge to earn 200 points!

Find additional tools under the drop-down menu in the top, right-hand corner:

Find the survey on the FutureMe portal at cooperative.com > My Insurance > FutureMe.

• Health Record – Store, maintain, track and manage your health information in a secure location.

• Resources – Access WebMD’s library of articles, podcasts, videos and more.

• Sync Devices and Apps – Sync your device to track and achieve your goals.

Download the app

1. Visit the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and search for “Wellness At Your Side.”

> SAIDI

2. Download and open the app, then enter your connection code: nreca

*Rewards are only available to eligible participants at cooperatives that participate in FutureMe rewards.

FutureMe portal

The FutureMe portal, hosted by WebMD, contains a wealth of resources and tools to help you, and all NRECA Medical Plan participants, take control of your health.

Register for access

Visit cooperative.com > My Benefits > My Insurance > FutureMe

Already registered? Your previous WebMD account will transfer. Simply log in through cooperative.com or using the WebMD Wellness At Your Side app.

Once logged in, complete the survey questions to customize your well-being experience.

First things first

Complete the FutureMe survey (under the drop-down menu in the top, right-hand corner)—a health assessment designed to give you immediate feedback and further customize the FutureMe portal to your needs and interests.

Tools

• My Health – The portal homepage, where you’ll find articles, webinars, infographics and more pertaining to your needs.

• Daily Habits – An interactive and doctor-approved tool for setting well-being goals.

• Rewards – Track your progress toward earning well-being incentives, if applicable.*

• Coaching – Connect with a credentialed health professional for one-on-one support, accountability and motivation.

Find additional tools under the drop-down menu in the top, right-hand corner:

• Health Record – Store, maintain, track and manage your health information in a secure location.

• Resources – Access WebMD’s library of articles, podcasts, videos and more.

• Sync Devices and Apps – Sync your device to track and achieve your goals.

Download the app

1. Visit the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and search for “Wellness At Your Side.”

2. Download and open the app, then enter your connection code: nreca

Get started on cooperative.com > My Benefits > My Insurance > FutureMe

*Rewards are only available to eligible participants at cooperatives that participate in FutureMe rewards.

How to Connect Your Device to

the FutureMe portal

1 3

After you log into the FutureMe portal (go to cooperative.com > My Benefits > My Insurance > FutureMe Follow the prompts to the FutureMe portal, look on the homepage for the card image (above) and click “Get Connected.”

OR

Click on the menu button on the top right corner (see image, right) and select “Sync Devices & Apps.”

A variety of apps and devices can be synced with the FutureMe portal including Fitbit, Garmin, Under Armour, Strava and many more.

2

Choose the device you wish to connect and select “Connect Account.” In this example the user selected Fitbit. After you choose the Fitbit device you currently use, you’ll need to sign in and authorize Fitbit to send your device’s information to WebMD. Options available to sync will differ depending on your device.

After you do, you’ll see a confirmation screen.

After you confirm your device, you can track your progress by clicking the menu (as shown above) and selecting “Sync Devices & Apps.” Here, you can track your activity or remove your device.

Once a device is connected to the FutureMe portal , all activity and steps data will be uploaded automatically into the exercise tracker and challenges whenever you sync your device.

Enjoy using your device to take steps towards better health!

To connect an Apple Watch or Android device, use the Wellness At Your Side app or contact WebMD Customer Service at 888.321.1521.

Wellness at Your Side App

Wellness at Your Side, the WebMD app, is an easy, secure way to log into the FutureMe portal and access the tools like the FutureMe survey, FutureMe rewards and FutureMe coaching

Access the App

1. Open the Apple App Store or Google Play Store on your device

2. Search for “Wellness at Your Side” and find the icon (right) and download the app

3. Once you open the app, you will be asked for a connection code. Enter ‘ NRECA’ in lowercase, then click ‘Connect’

4. Type your username and password, then click ‘Sign In’

Username and Password

Your username and password are the same as what you created when you first registered on the FutureMe portal.

NEED TO REGISTER? You must have registered online previously before using the app. Go to cooperative.com

> My Benefits > My Insurance > FutureMe and follow directions to the FutureMe portal.

FORGOT YOUR PASSWORD? Click the ‘forgot password or username’ link at the bottom of the app sign-in screen. WebMD will send an email to reset your password or provide your username.

WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE CO-OP

FROM THE IT DEPARTMENT...

Multifactor Authentication (MFA) is coming soon. Laura, Lori, and Joe have been in meetings with NISC about their new MFA service. MFA is an authentication method where you are granted access to an application after presenting multiple pieces of personal identification, such as a password and a code through email or text. You may have already experienced the need for MFA if you do online banking or pay bills online. Many times, once a password is submitted, a code is sent to you via text message or email that needs to be entered to allow access into your account.

Coming this spring, to get into our servers, VPN, and cloud environment, MFA will be required. This is the next step in updating our security measures. There are several reasons we are moving to MFA – it will help to protect member and employee information in the event of a cyberattack, it is a requirement for the cooperative to maintain its cybersecurity insurance, and it is a best practice.

As we begin to understand more about MFA, IT will send updates and will let you know how it will affect your login experience.

IN MEMBER SERVICES...

Cooperative Insights, in coordination with Butler Rural Electric Cooperative and Touchstone Energy, has initiated a market research study to better understand member perceptions toward residential solar energy. Member feedback from the study will help us understand member preferences regarding residential solar, understand reasons members choose residential solar or not, gain insights on members’ expectations of electric cooperatives regarding residential solar, and understand members’ experience of residential solar.

Cooperative Insights released a screener survey to members January 30. A formal email invitation to participate in the online activities to targeted members will be sent February 6.

Continued on next page

Employee birthdays

JANUARY

Julie Abbott

January 11

Adam Osborn

January 22

Kara Hendrickson

January 25

FEBRUARY

Mike Murray

February 3

Kelsey James

February 6

Missy Moore

February 9

Darlene Thompson

February 21

Cheryl Mathews

February 26

MARCH

Lisa Broermann

March 4

Larry Hornung

March 12

Rodney Taylor

March 15

Bob Conrad

March 24

What's happening at the co-op

Continued from previous page

We're working with NRECA Market Research Services to complete member satisfaction surveys by phone and email. The surveys are random, so not every member will be contacted. Members will receive the surveys in March.

We strive to provide all members with exceptional service. By participating in the survey, members will help us make decisions that benefit them. Their thoughts and opinions matter to us.

Members have extra time to pay their electric bills during the winter season, when higher than normal bills are common due to increased heating system use. From November 1 through April 15, members have 10 extra days to pay their bill without disconnection. These 10 days begin the day after our due date, which is typically the 20th of the month. If the 20th falls on a weekend or holiday, the due date is moved to the next business day.

Upcoming

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative donated to Shared Harvest, Preble County Community Action Partnership, and the Salvation Army during the holidays.

ACRE is rebranding. Over the next several months, NRECA will be rebranding Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE) to its new name –America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC. The launch and transition of the new name will begin in March, but the mission of the PAC is still the same.

America’s Electric Cooperatives PAC is the federal Political Action Committee of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. NRECA PAC supports candidates for the U.S. House and Senate – those in office now and running for office – who will speak for and protect the interests of electric cooperatives and their members.

MARCH JANUARY

March 9 YOUTH TOUR TESTING

March 13 through 17

CHILI/SOUP LUNCHEON

March 14

PIRC

March 14 and 15

March 15

BOARD MEETING

March 29

ATTN: Someone National Information Solutions Cooperative

123 Fake St. Apt 1 St. Louis, MO 12345

CAPITAL CREDITS NOTICES

Capital credits checks were mailed to members in November. Members who have not cashed or deposited their checks will receive notices by mail and email asking them to promptly do so. The first notice will be sent February 17 and a second notice will be sent March 10. Below is last year's notice.

January 31, 2023

Re: Capital Credits Check Not Cashed

Dear ,

According to our records, your capital credits check from Butler Rural Electric Cooperative has not been cashed or deposited as of March 10, 2022. The check was mailed to you in November 2021. Please cash the check immediately or choose one of the options below and return this letter. If you do not take action on this money, your capital credits amount will not be available to you and will be reallocated to the cooperative membership.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

Judith Persinger Director of Accounting and Finance Butler

Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc.

_____ Please issue a duplicate check.

_____ Apply the capital credits amount to my electric bill.

_____ Automatically apply my capital credits amount to my bill each year.

_____ Donate my capital credits check to Butler Rural Community Connection.

______________________________ ______________________________ ______________

Signature of Payee Title (if for a corporation) Date

LEARN THE LINGO > RTOS

Regional Transmission Organizations

Non-profit, public-benefit corporations created as a part of electricity restructuring in the U.S., beginning in the 1990s. RTOs cover about half of the U.S. and manage roughly two-thirds of annual electricity demand.

Celebrating promotions

In November, EMILY BOURNE accepted a new position as work order and inventory clerk in our operations department. She will be responsible for maintaining records for line materials and equipment and will assist with work order processing, staking sheets, and miscellaneous invoices. Emily has worked at Butler Rural Electric Cooperative for six years, most recently as a member services representative.

Emily lives in West College Corner, Indiana with her husband, Austin, and their three year old son, Wade. She enjoys camping, spending time with friends and family, and being outdoors. Emily is shown below with her family.

LAURA SMITH was promoted to director of corporate and member services in January. Laura grew up near Oxford and graduated from Talawanda High School. She received her Associates Degree in Applied Science in Information Technology and a Bachelor of Integrative Studies from Miami University and received

her Master of Business Administration in Business Intelligence from Xavier University. She has worked at the co-op for 26 years.

Laura has five older brothers and one younger sister and recently got married. She enjoys traveling, reading, and working in the garden.

In February, MASON MILLER moved to our operations department and will begin training to become an apprentice lineworker at the Central Ohio Lineworker Training, or COLT, facility this spring. COLT provides hands-on apprentice and journeyman lineworker training to lineworkers employed by one of Ohio’s 24 electric co-ops.

Mason has worked at Butler Rural Electric Cooperative for three years. He enjoys hunting and visiting local parks to camp during his free time.

Congratulations, Emily, Laura, and Mason!

Laura Smith DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE AND MEMBER SERVICES

Emily Bourne WORK ORDER AND INVENTORY CLERK

Mason Miller LINEWORKER

ALL MEMBERS

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative is governed by an elected board of trustees. Board members are members of the cooperative just like you — they pay the same electric rates as you and live in your community. Board members represent all members as they set policies, monitor the cooperative’s performance, and approve the annual budget. Board members work to ensure rates are fair and listen to concerns from members.

Board seats up for election in 2023

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s members vote for trustees each year. Three board seats are up for election this year — District 6, which includes Reily Township, District 7, which includes Hanover and St. Clair townships, and District 8, which includes Harrison and Morgan townships. Members living in these districts received a notice in the mail in August 2022 to let them know they could run for the board.

Candidate interviews

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s nominating committee met in November to interview members running for the board of trustees. The committee interviewed four candidates from District 6, three from District 7, and five candidates from District 8. Committee members asked board candidates questions about their background

HOW TO VOTE

MAIL

All members will receive a ballot in the mail, along with voting instructions, candidate information, and a postage-paid return envelope. Ballots will be mailed March 27

vote

and experience, their views on Butler Rural Electric Cooperative and the electric industry, and their commitment to serving the community. All candidates were interviewed, including incumbent board members.

Board of trustees candidates

The nominating committee chose two candidates from each district to run for the board of trustees after the interviews. The candidates running for the board are listed on the following pages. Please view their biographies to learn more about them. You can also view videos of the candidates at butlerrural.coop when the election begins March 27.

All members vote!

You can vote for one candidate in each district, even if you do not live in the districts up for election. All members will receive a ballot in the mail, along with voting instructions, candidate information, and a postagepaid return envelope. Ballots will be mailed March 27 and the deadline to submit votes is April 25.

Results will be announced during our annual meeting April 27. Members can tune in to Facebook Live to hear the election results during the meeting. The results will also be published in the June issue of Ohio Cooperative Living and on our website.

ONLINE

Members can visit butlerrural.coop between March 27 and April 25 and click on “Vote Now” on our homepage. They can log in using their member number and election passcode, which will be listed on the ballots mailed March 27

SMARTHUB

Members can access SmartHub at butlerrural. coop or through the mobile app between March 27 and April 25. They can log in to their SmartHub account and select the “Vote Now” button to access their online ballot.

DEADLINE TO VOTE IS APRIL 25

MEET THE CANDIDATES

Family

Married to my wife Paula for 36 years and we have two grown children.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1980. Licensed CPA in 1995. Completed Ohio Society of CPA’s Center for Leadership program 2003.

Employment

Began at Champion International in Hamilton and worked at several regional companies in accounting management roles before transitioning over to installing business software. I installed software as a traveling consultant and project manager assisting companies in the U.S. and Europe. Retired as controller for M. Bohlke Veneer after three years in 2022.

Leadership and community activities

I have held leadership roles from supervisor to vice

Family

I have been married to Janice for 57 years and have three children and six grandchildren.

Education

I attended Ohio State University and Miami University. I have earned NRECA’s Cooperative Director, Board Leadership, and Director Gold certificates.

Employment

I retired from farming where we raised hogs, beef cattle, and grain crops and am a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Leadership and community activities

I was on the Butler County Fair Board for 15 years and am a former member of the Butler County Pork Producers

president in various organizations. Previous community service includes the Fairfield School Board and coaching youth sports teams.

What do you do in your free time? Hiking, working in the yard, and woodworking.

Why are you interested in serving on the board?

I was immediately interested because electricity is vital for almost everything we do. The responsibilities sound challenging and I could give back to the community.

What are the biggest challenges facing the cooperative? Planning for how to continue to meet the electrical demands of Butler Rural members in the future. This is primarily because of increasing government regulation of coal fired generation plants, current technological limitations of wind and solar, and increased home electric vehicle charging stations.

How would you fulfill our mission of serving members?

I believe my diverse business experience, financial skills, and team focus will allow me to work closely with the other trustees on a wide variety of topics keeping the best interest of members as a consistent theme in all discussions.

where I served as president and vice president. I’m a member of the Reily Township Historical Society and the Franklin County Antique Machinery Club.

What do you do in your free time?

I restore John Deere lawn mowers, attend my grandchildren’s activities, travel, and garden.

Why are you interested in serving on the board?

Being a lifetime resident of Reily Township, I know the value of dependable, affordable electricity. I’m proud Butler Rural Electric is in the top six cooperatives in Ohio. My mission is to maintain and increase our dependability on the power grid while keeping costs at a reasonable rate.

What are the biggest challenges facing the cooperative? Keeping the grid reliable, meeting environmental requirements, security, and keeping our electric affordable.

How would you fulfill our mission of serving members?

I would continue to work with all board members, employees, and our customers to maintain and improve our electric service.

DISTRICT 6

Reily Township in Butler County

Tom Heisler REILY TOWNSHIP

Ronald G. Kolb REILY TOWNSHIP

MEET THE CANDIDATES

DISTRICT 7

Hanover and St. Clair townships in Butler County

Family

Married to Teresa Watts Tilton with three kids –Laurel, Olivia, and Clark.

Education

Attended Talawanda and Miami University. Received highest level of Rural Electric Board Educational ranking of Director Gold.

Employment

Retired Butler County Chief Deputy Auditor

Leadership and community activities

Butler Rural Electric board for 20 years, officer of Butler County Sheriffs Mounted Patrol since 1994, chairman of Butler County Law Library’s board since 2010, and shooting

instructor for Butler County Sharpshooters 4-H club.

What do you do in your free time?

Beekeeping, hiking, kayaking, and owner of the Old Barn Woodshop.

Why are you interested in serving on the board?

Being a part of a non-profit member-owned electric cooperative that puts reliability and community involvement first.

What are the biggest challenges facing the cooperative?

The quickly changing challenges of an energy market as it transitions away from coal. Increasing electric load to our system from the use of electric vehicle charging.

How would you fulfill our mission of serving members?

By being active in the community and willing to listen to members’ concerns about issues like coal, home solar, electric vehicles, and geothermal, all while controlling costs.

Family

My wife and I have been married for five years and recently welcomed our third child in January. We reside in St. Clair Township and love being members of our community.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Statistics with a minor in Actuarial Science from Miami University.

Employment

I am currently employed as a network design specialist for altafiber. I have been employed there since graduating from college. During my time in college, I enjoyed working as a clerk for Doug Ross Auctioneer.

Leadership and community activities

I have spent multiple years coaching baseball and basketball teams in my community as well as coordinating our yearly Vacation Bible School at our church.

What do you do in your free time?

I can always be found playing with my kids, cooking something in my kitchen, or participating in community events as a family.

Why are you interested in serving on the board? I am passionate about our region of southwest Ohio and the people that live here. Electricity powers the lives that we all lead and I believe I have a knowledge base that could lend itself well to the continued success of the cooperative.

What are the biggest challenges facing the cooperative? Our region is currently seeing a shift in demand – more people want to live in our Butler Rural Footprint. This will not only require an increase in the demand on our utility networks but also present an opportunity to educate more members on electrical safety, energy alternatives, and community engagement.

How would you fulfill our mission of serving members? It is the obligation of the cooperative to provide our members with the service they need while also working to support the community we live in. I would be honored to lend my knowledge and efforts toward this mission.

Michael Tilton HANOVER TOWNSHIP

Joseph Wolf ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP

MEET THE CANDIDATES

DISTRICT 8

Education

Graduated from Ross High School in 1970.

Employment

Retired owner of Spaeth Builders, operating in Morgan, Reily, and Ross townships for many years.

Leadership and community activities

Retired member of the Morgan Ross Athletic Association after serving as a trustee for 12 years. Have been a cooperative member for 49 years and have been a Butler Rural Electric Cooperative director for 15 years, earning the Credentialed Cooperative Director, Board Leadership, and Director Gold

certification through NRECA.

Why are you interested in serving on the board?

I look forward to having the opportunity to continue representing the cooperative at annual, regional, and monthly meetings and continuing to serve the interests of the cooperative.

What are the biggest challenges facing the cooperative?

The major issues the cooperative board should address include the need for the education of the members about the functions of the cooperative and the importance of each member’s involvement in that process. The biggest challenge is the global impact of the regulations governing the energy production of that industry.

How would you fulfill our mission of serving members?

I want to continue to address legislative issues facing the energy industry.

Family

My wife, Karen, and I have been customers of the cooperative for 33 of our 39 years of marriage. We have two sons and two granddaughters.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Cincinnati.

Employment

I retired in November 2022

after 26 years with the former AK Steel where I managed the transportation department. I also worked for 18 years for GE and Cincinnati Milacron. I am currently a self-employed woodworker.

Leadership and community activities

We are members of Crosby Community Church and volunteer working concessions and provide field maintenance for Upwards Soccer. I also transport food from donor locations to the church’s Food Ministry.

What do you do in your free time?

When not woodworking for fun or profit, I assist in the fulltime day care of our granddaughters. We also enjoy gardening.

Why are you interested in serving on the board?

The cooperative has provided great service, especially during the straight-line wind event of 2007. I think my 40plus years business experience provides a well-rounded background that could be beneficial to the cooperative.

What are the biggest challenges facing the cooperative? Although supportive of alternative energy development, I feel very strongly that establishing hard date phaseout of fossil fuels, before perfecting alternative technologies, is dangerous, irresponsible, and counter to the cooperative’s mission to provide affordable energy. I am also concerned about the fragility of the grid with the recent attacks on electrical substations.

How would you fulfill our mission of serving members?

Being self-employed, I set my own schedule and will always be accessible to the membership. I truly like meeting people where I learn more by listening rather than speaking.

Harrison Township in Hamilton County and Morgan Township in Butler County

Robert Spaeth MORGAN TOWNSHIP

Larry Sutthoff MORGAN TOWNSHIP

welcoming new employees

We welcomed three new employees to Butler Rural Electric Cooperative in January.

KYLE FAGIN is our new custodian. He has worked as a public servant for the past ten years through Reily Township and the Butler County Engineers Office in their operations department. Kyle enjoys working outside and helping improve the community. He looks forward to continuing to serve the community at Butler Rural Electric Cooperative and is excited to pursue a career as a lineworker in the future.

Kyle grew up in Reily Township in Butler County, coming from a family who has lived in Reily Townships for several generations. He enjoys the rural area the cooperative serves and likes hunting, fishing, and spending time with his niece and nephew in his free time.

KELSEY JAMES is one of our new member services representatives. Kelsey grew up in a household with

many siblings. She is nearing the end of her education and is excited to work with our members in her new role at the co-op.

In her free time, Kelsey enjoys listening to music, cooking, painting, and learning about languages. She enjoys being creative and is passionate about learning new things.

ALYSSA MAURITS also joined the cooperative as our member services representative. She has worked in the electric cooperative industry for four years and enjoys serving members. Alyssa looks forward to learning about the cooperative’s different programs and services, like our water heater programs.

Alyssa has been married to her husband, Montana, for two years. They have a four-month-old daughter, Remi, and a Cockapoo named Boone. She enjoys deer hunting with her dad, boating, golfing, and spending time with family.

Alyssa Maurits

MEMBER SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE

Kyle Fagin CUSTODIAN

Kelsey James MEMBER SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE

Independent System Operator

An independent organization that handles electric grid operations, market facilitation (for certain electric markets), and bulk electric system planning.

All employees attend the annual meeting, where you’ll hear from the co-op’s board president and general manager, learn about upcoming projects and programs, and hear board election results. We will also have a great buffet meal and live entertainment from Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers!

The annual meeting is Thursday, April 27 on the arena floor at Miami University’s Millett Hall in Oxford. If members are unable to attend the meeting, they can view it on Facebook Live. Members will not be able to ask questions during the meeting through Facebook Live. Members must attend the meeting in-person to win door prizes and bill credits.

Enjoy

HOW ELECTRICITY REACHES YOU

Generation

Electricity is produced at a generation facility either by renewable or non-renewable energy sources.

Distributed Generation

Distributed generation systems like rooftop solar panels produce electricity when their energy source is available, such as when the sun shines. When the energy source is unavailable, the home or business receives electricity from the grid. If the system produces more electricity than needed, the excess power is sent back to the grid.

Save at Big Boyz Pizza with Co-op Connections!

Use Co-op Connections discounts to save $2 when you order a large pizza from Big Boyz Pizza in Brookville, Indiana!

Co-op Connections provides employees and members with exclusive ways to save. The free membership has countless benefits. Create a free Co-op Connections account and find more local deals at connections.coop or download the free Co-op Connections app.

Big Boyz Pizza

9199 State Route 101 Brookville, Indiana 47012

Transmission Lines and Substations

After the electricity is generated, it travels through high-voltage transmission power lines to electric substations, where the voltage is lowered.

Distribution Lines

Once the voltage is lowered, the electricity travels over distribution power lines, which ultimately deliver the electricity to our homes and businesses.

OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH BUCKEYE POWER + THE WHOLESALE POWER AGREEMENT

Butler Rural Electric Cooperative was founded in 1936. Other distribution cooperatives around the state started around this same time, give or take a few years. In the early years, the cooperatives received their power through purchased power contracts, often with the local investor-owned utilities. It soon became apparent to cooperative leaders in the state that in order to maintain stable and affordable rates, we needed to have our own power supply.

This goal led to the formation of Buckeye Power in 1959. Buckeye Power, a not-for-profit generation and transmission cooperative, or G&T, was organized and owned jointly by the distribution cooperatives of Ohio. Buckeye Power’s purpose is to provide reliable, affordable electricity to member co-ops, who then distribute it to nearly 400,000 homes and businesses in Ohio. Each distribution cooperative gets to have one director on the governing board of the G&T. Butler Rural Electric Cooperative has one of 25 votes for any issues brought before Buckeye Power's Board of Directors.

The new G&T cooperative quickly began work to acquire the cooperatives' own generation assets. Through an agreement with Ohio Power and funding from the Rural Electrification Administration, or REA, the Cardinal Generation Station was born in the 1960s. In order to grant funding, the REA needed assurances that Buckeye Power would be able to pay its debts. Buckeye Power provided these assurances through agreements with all of its distribution cooperative owners, collectively called the Consolidated Wholesale Power Agreement, or WPA. This agreement essentially states, “the purchaser shall purchase and receive from the seller all electric power and energy which the purchaser shall require…” This meant the REA saw a guaranteed load and revenue to pay for the generation

investment. The Wholesale Power Agreement has undergone extensions and modifications over the years. But, the 100% power rule has essentially remained the same. The current Wholesale Power Agreement has a term which extends to 2057 Except by vote of all members, the Wholesale Power Agreement does not have an “out” clause during its term. Once the term is completed, termination can occur with a three-year notice.

Why does this matter?

The Wholesale Power Agreement impacts how we operate as we march into an everchanging power supply future. As it stands, any power supply must come from, or through, Buckeye Power.

What about roof top solar or wind?

Every individual member has the right to produce its own power. However, if the entity produces more than what they need at any given time and power flows back onto the grid, it becomes power supply to someone else. Therefore, due to the wholesale power agreement, Buckeye Power purchases this power and it becomes a part of the total Buckeye power supply. Given the terms of the Wholesale Power Agreement, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative can not act as its own G&T. Therefore, our role in home solar or wind is to educate and assist our members in the interconnection of their own systems when it makes sense for them. Contractually, we can not participate in a way which violates the WPA.

The WPA and Community Solar

For example, Butler Rural Electric Cooperative cannot choose to install solar panels in our field across from our office without doing so in agreement with Buckeye Power, like through our Community Solar arrays. Installing solar panels on our own would violate the WPA.

Employee anniversaries

JANUARY

Mike Murray

January 4 35 years

Riley Salyers

January 6

3 years

Charlie Young

January 7 4 years

Jeff McGraw

January 11 24 years

Daniel Chaney

January 17 23 years

Andy Denny

January 18 2 years

Mason Miller

January 27 3 years

FEBRUARY

Rick Zhang

February 1 2 years

Seth Fricke

February 8 7 years

Kevin Maddock

February 12 16 years

Rodney Taylor

February 19 22 years

MARCH

Jeremy Hill

March 5 16 years

Steve Abrams

March 7 1 year

Curt Loewenstine

March 14

12 years

Tricia Blevins

March 21 7 years

Our mission

Do you have information to include in the employee newsletter or an idea to improve communication?

Send feedback, information, and photos to Jade at jadeg@butlerrural.coop.

To be a dynamic, progressive organization guided by cooperative principles and to provide energy and other value-added services to its members. The cooperative will participate in its communities, providing leadership and support to improve the quality of life for all of its citizens.

BUTLER RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

BUTLER RURAL